2014 Giro D’Italia, by the numbers

Sure the Tour de France is the grandaddy of all bike races, but the Giro D'Italia—Italy's answer to Le Tour—is only a few years younger. (Fabio Ferrari/AP)

Sure the Tour de France is the grandaddy of all bike races, but the Giro D’Italia—Italy’s answer to Le Tour—is only a few years younger and has more of a Canadian connection, with Canuck cyclist Ryder Hesjedal having claimed the winner’s trophy in 2012.

Hesjedal is back this year, heading the Garmin-Sharp team. Here’s what he’ll be up against as he winds and climbs his way through Ireland—where the Giro begins—and across Italy.

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.